Translation and Meaning of: 昨日 - kinou

If you are learning Japanese, you have certainly come across the word 昨日 (きのう). It is one of those expressions that frequently appears in daily life and in simple dialogues. But what exactly does it mean? How is it used in everyday Japan? In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and cultural details behind this common word. Additionally, we will see how to memorize it easily and how it fits into different linguistic contexts.

The meaning and origin of 昨日 (きのう)

The word 昨日 (きのう) means "yesterday." It is composed of two kanji: 昨 (meaning "past" or "previous") and 日 (which means "day"). Together, they form a direct expression to refer to the day prior to the current one. This construction is common in Japanese, where many temporal are formed by combining specific kanji.

Although 昨日 is the most standard form, there are regional variations in Japan. In some dialects, such as Kansai, you can hear きのう pronounced slightly differently, but the meaning remains the same. This word is essential for everyday conversations, from simple reports to more elaborate narratives about past events.

How to use 昨日 (きのう) in sentences

One of the best ways to reinforce the use of 昨日 is to see it in context. For example, in a sentence like "昨日、映画を見ました" (きのう、えいがをみました), which means "Yesterday, I watched a movie," the word naturally appears to indicate the time of the action. It can also be combined with other temporal expressions, such as "昨日の朝" (きのうのあさ – "yesterday morning") or "昨日の夜" (きのうのよる – "yesterday evening").

It's worth noting that in Japanese, the word order doesn't always follow the same logic as in Portuguese. While in Portuguese we say "yesterday I went to the park," in Japanese the structure can vary, but 昨日 usually appears at the beginning or close to it to clarify that the action occurred the day before. This flexibility allows the word to adapt to different speaking styles without losing its central meaning.

Tips for ing 昨日 (きのう)

If you are having trouble ing this word, a useful technique is to associate it with something familiar. For example, think of "kinou" as "who doesn’t" what they did yesterday? This sound association can help solidify the pronunciation. Another strategy is to practice with flashcards or apps like Anki, incorporating sentences that use 昨日 in various contexts.

In addition, watching anime or Japanese dramas can be a great way to hear the word being used naturally. Often, characters talk about events from the previous day, which reinforces learning in a contextualized way. The more you expose your brain to the word in real (or fictional but authentic) situations, the easier it will be to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 昨日 (kinou) - Yesterday
• 前日 (zenjitsu) - The previous day (can refer to any day before today)
• 一昨日 (ottōi) - the day before yesterday
• 昨 (saku) - Used in specific contexts to refer to yesterday, often in relation to the recent past.
• 昨夜 (sakuya) - Last night
• 昨晩 (sakuban) - Last night (equivalent to 昨夜, but more formal)